2023 Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
Today's nursing students have lots of options to pick from when considering higher education opportunities. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Also, there are a number of trade schools and bootcamp with offerings that you might find attractive.
Along with in-depth profiles of schools and the programs they offer, Nursing Degree Search has created the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama to help you in your search for the best school for you. This report analyzed 21 schools in Alabama to see which ones offered the best associate degree programs for nursing students. Factors related to overall quality of the school, post-graduation earnings, average student debt, and more accumulated were considered when coming up with this list.
View our full ranking methodology.
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Top Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
Our 2023 rankings named Herzing University - Birmingham the best school in Alabama for nursing students working on their associate degree. Herzing University - Birmingham is a very small private not-for-profit school situated in Birmingham, Alabama. It awarded 90 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
If you want to attend Herzing University - Birmingham, expect to pay an average of $12,750 in tuition and fees. Of course, this could be reduced if you receive financial aid. On average, associate degree students take out $23,896 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Herzing University - Birmingham. During the 2020-2021 year, about 48% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
A rank of #2 on this year’s list means Coastal Alabama Community College is a great place for nursing students working on their associate degree. Coastal Alabama Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Bay Minette, Alabama. It awarded 849 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Coastal Alabama Community College. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,670. On average, associate degree students take out $11,333 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Coastal Alabama Community College does have options available for those who want to take online classes. You will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your specific major. During the 2020-2021 year, about 60% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
The excellent associate degree programs at Gadsden State Community College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Alabama. Gadsden State Community College is a small public school located in Gadsden, Alabama that handed out 691 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at GSCC is $5,312. Out-of-state students pay an average of $9,312.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at GSCC. In fact, around 65% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
The excellent associate degree programs at Wallace Community College, Dothan helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best nursing schools in Alabama. Wallace Community College, Dothan is a small public school located in Dothan, Alabama that handed out 458 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,860 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Wallace, Dothan. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,610.
Wallace, Dothan does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 40% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Bevill State Community College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Bevill State Community College is located in Jasper, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 436 associate degrees to qualified students.
In-state students pay an average of $5,278 in tuition and fees if they attend Bevill State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,278.
Online courses are available at Bevill State Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In 2020-2021 about 42% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
Wallace Community College, Selma ranked #6 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Selma, Alabama, the small public school awarded 229 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at WCCS is $4,620. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,370.
One thing to take note of is that WCCS does offer online classes in some areas. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 57% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #7 on the list. This small public school is located in Birmingham, Alabama, and it awarded 303 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend LSCC - Birmingham Campus. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670.
Online courses are available at LSCC - Birmingham Campus, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 78% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
Read full report on Lawson State Community College - Birmingham Campus
Jefferson State Community College came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Birmingham, Alabama is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 1,217 students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $5,220 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Jeff State. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,910. Associate Degree recipients from Jeff State accumulate an average of $9,688 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Jeff State. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 62% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Chattahoochee Valley Community College landed the #9 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Chattahoochee Valley Community College is a small public school located in Phenix City, Alabama that handed out 227 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees if they attend CVCC full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,730. Associate Degree recipients from CVCC accumulate an average of $11,351 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at CVCC. During the 2020-2021 year, about 55% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Lurleen B Wallace Community College came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. This small public school is located in Andalusia, Alabama, and it awarded 301 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 63% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Wallace State Community College, Hanceville landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Located in Hanceville, Alabama, the medium-sized public school handed out 911 associate degree awards in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Wallace State, Hanceville is $4,920. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $8,670. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $12,315 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Wallace State, Hanceville does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 54% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Read full report on Wallace State Community College, Hanceville
Shelton State Community College landed the #12 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best associate degree nursing programs. Shelton State Community College is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and has a small student population. In 2021-2022, this school awarded 572 associate degrees to qualified students.
Students from Alabama who attend Shelton State Community College full time pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,730.
Online courses are available at Shelton State Community College, but you will need to check with the school to see if they are available for your field of interest. In fact, around 67% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #13, Bishop State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Mobile, Alabama is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out associate degrees to 292 students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Bishop State Community College is $4,920. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,670.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since Bishop State Community College does offer online classes for certain majors. In 2020-2021 about 54% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
University of West Alabama came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Livingston, Alabama, the medium-sized public school awarded 41 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at University of West Alabama is $10,990. Those students who come from outside the state pay an average of $20,090. Associate Degree recipients from University of West Alabama accumulate an average of $21,513 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
University of West Alabama does offer online classes for certain degree levels. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 64% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Southern Union State Community College ranked #15 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Southern Union State Community College is a small public school situated in Wadley, Alabama. It awarded 604 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $4,920 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend Southern Union State Community College. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $11,262 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Southern Union State Community College does offer online classes in some areas. In fact, around 60% of the undergraduate population registered for at least one online class in 2020-2021.
With a ranking of #16, John C Calhoun State Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Calhoun Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Tanner, Alabama. It awarded 1,358 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Calhoun Community College is $5,000. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $8,750. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $13,709 in student loans.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Calhoun Community College. In 2020-2021 about 63% of the undergraduate students at the school chose to take one or more online courses.
With a ranking of #17, Troy University did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. TROY is a fairly large public school situated in Troy, Alabama. It awarded 268 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
On average, associate degree students take out $22,802 in loans while pursuing their degree.
Depending on your major, you may be able to take online classes at TROY. To give an idea of how popular online courses are at the school, 59% of undergraduates took at least one course online in 2020-2021.
Snead State Community College ranked #18 on this year’s Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama list. Located in Boaz, Alabama, the small public school awarded 395 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $5,408 in tuition and fees if they attend Snead State Community College full time. If you are from out of state, expect to pay an average of $9,408. Associate Degree recipients from Snead State Community College accumulate an average of $10,154 in student debt by the time they complete their degree.
Snead State Community College does offer online classes for certain degree levels. During the 2020-2021 year, about 81% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
With a ranking of #19, Central Alabama Community College did quite well on this year’s best schools for nursing students working on their associate degree. Central Alabama Community College is a public institution located in Alexander City, Alabama. The school has a small population, and it awarded 221 associate degrees in 2021-2022.
In-state students pay an average of $4,980 in tuition and fees if they attend Central Alabama Community College full time. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,730. By the time they get their associate degree, students from this school have racked up an average of $14,273 in student loans.
One thing to take note of is that Central Alabama Community College does offer online classes in some areas. During the 2020-2021 year, about 56% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northeast Alabama Community College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the best places for nursing students to get an associate degree. It came in at #20 on the list. Located in Rainsville, Alabama, the small public school awarded 446 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
The average in-state tuition and fees for students at Northeast is $4,920. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,670. On average, associate degree students take out $7,796 in loans while pursuing their degree.
You may have the opportunity to take online classes at Northeast. During the 2020-2021 year, about 72% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Northwest-Shoals Community College came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in Alabama ranking. Located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the small public school awarded 397 diplomas to qualifed associate degree students in 2021-2022.
Full-time students from Alabama pay an average of $5,011 in tuition and fees if they choose to attend NW-SCC. Out-of-state students pay an average of $8,761. On average, associate degree students take out $12,788 in loans while pursuing their degree.
If you are interested in distance education, be sure to check with the school since NW-SCC does offer online classes for certain majors. During the 2020-2021 year, about 43% of the undergraduates at the school took at least one online course.
Best Nursing Associate Degree Schools in the Southeast Region
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Notes and References
Footnotes
*These averages are for the top 21 schools only.
References
- Read more about our ranking methodology.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
More about our data sources and methodologies.